Hillary Lorenz
Hilary Lorenz works with ink, paper, and wood, creating two- and three-dimensional art forms that skillfully blend traditional craftwork with contemporary art practices to explore landscapes and environments. Using trail running and backpacking, Lorenz traverses an expanse of streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, mountains, and deserts. Her work reflects the places she inhabits.
The series 'Blue Botanicals' symbolizes the enduring presence of water in my life. It comprises of 30" x 22" one-of-a-kind hand-carved linoleum block prints created with plant stencils and indigo blue ink. The indigo blue ink symbolizes water, a vital part of life. I grew up on Lake Michigan and subsequently lived in NYC, always within a half mile of a significant body of water. I now reside in the arid desert of Northern New Mexico, where water is constantly under threat due to the region's increasing heat and dryness, leading to destructive wildfires.
The 'Blue Botanicals' series visually narrates my journey, intertwining my past's lush, watery landscapes with my present's harsh, drought-stricken environment. The indigo blue ink symbolizes the water from my previous homes as a poignant reminder of what is possible. The botanic stencils, crafted from weeds found in the New Mexico land, symbolize the solace I find amidst the cracks in my history and memory. The meticulous process of creating the stencils, from the initial selection of the plants to the final laser-cutting, is an integral and deeply dedicated part of this series, exploring how history, memory, and environment shape my identity in the world.
Each unique print showcases a moving arrangement of plants that will eventually overpower and remove most traces of the blue water, grounding me in the high desert landscape.
Blue Botanical 1, 2022 Linoleum Block Print with custom stencil on Rives BFK Cream 24 x 18 in (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
Blue Botanical 2, 2022 Linoleum Block Print with custom stencil on Rives BFK Cream 24 x 18 in (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
Blue Botanical 3, 2022 Linoleum Block Print with custom stencil on Rives BFK Cream 24 x 18 in (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
Blue Botanical 4, 2022 Linoleum Block Print with custom stencil on Rives BFK Cream 24 x 18 in (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
Blue Botanical 14, 2022 Linoleum Block Print with custom stencil on Rives BFK Cream 24 x 18 in (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
Blue Botanical #6, 2022 Linoleum Block Print with custom stencil on Rives BFK Cream 24 x 18 in (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
Blue Botanical #10, 2022 Linoleum Block Print with custom stencil on Rives BFK Cream 24 x 18 in (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
Water Diamonds, 2022 Linoleum Block Print with custom stencil on Rives BFK Cream 24 x 18 in (60.96 x 45.72 cm)
